Ron Wolf on 95.7 The Game

Here’s a transcript of an interview former Raiders exec Ron Wolf did on 95.7 The Game (FM). Interesting to note at the bottom Wolf said he is not serving in any sort of advisory capacity with the club. It’s at least the second time he’s said it, which hasn’t slowed the belief that he’s in the ear of owner Mark Davis. The other names mentioned as being “advisors” have been John Madden and Ken Herock.
Madden has been at some games, and given his loyalty to Al Davis, there’s no reason to think he doesn’t pick up the phone every time Mark calls. As for Herock, he’s been at practices, talking to coaches, taking to players as well as Mark Davis as Amy Trask. He’s been at games as well. When I asked Trask about Herock’s involvement, she said he was “part of the Raider family.” Herock also worked at Green Bay with Wolf and while McKenzie was there.

The transcript from an interview conducted on 95.7:

Q: How are Raiders run compared to other franchises?

Wolf: I’m not into that really and truly. It’s an area I don’t know that much about. I do know having worked 25 years under Al Davis with the Raiders exactly what that was like when he was in control. The great thing about working for him was the fact that you knew what you were supposed to do and you were given the opportunity to do that. Everything was compartmentalized. I do not know what the structure is today or what it’s like because I left in 1990, but it would seem to me that whole thing has fallen apart from the sense of a structural standpoint. And I think that’s what the need to get back.

Q: Seems that now Hue Jackson getting involved in everything, even wants to be involved in hiring of a GM. How involved should he be in that process?

Wolf: Again, this is an area I’m not familiar with. I really don’t know Hue Jackson at all other than by reputation, and I would think the hiring of a general manager is in the auspices of the owner, certainly not the head football coach. If the head football coach wants to be in it, why not the head of marketing or the head of personnel, not personnel, public relations. You could run down the whole gamut of who should be in there, but I would think that’s the owner’s bailiwick and the owner should take care of it. And it sounds to me, what I’ve heard, is the owner is going to take care of that.

Q: Is Mark Davis the type that wants to be front and center, wants to be out there, or does he want to be behind the curtain?

Wolf: I think what Mark Davis’ deal is, he wants to bring the Raiders back to where they were, the glory years of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s. I think that’s what he wants to do. I also think he’s smart enough to realize what he can and cannot do, what he’s capable of and what he isn’t capable of. So I think, rather than putting himself in the limelight, I would think that he is going to hire people that would enable him to bring out the best in the Raiders. He knows, I believe, Mark is smart enough to know what he can do, and he will only help in areas that he can help in. I don’t think he feels that he needs to be the front line guy here.

Q: How will having not many draft picks affect mindset of GM coming in?

Wolf: Well, if you’re a GM coming in, you have to realize there’s only 31 of those jobs. So if you want a job, obviously, you’re not going to get a job with a top-notch operation from a won-loss standpoint because they’re doing well. They’re not going to change. So you’re opportunity is in this particular end here, where they don’t have somebody. So you have to weigh that. Do you really want to be a general manager? And if you do, do when the opportunity presents itself, you have to bite the bullet and run with it.

Q: Raiders are open, the Bears, reports are Reggie McKenzie could have his choice between Chicago and Raiders. Which is the more appealing job?

Wolf: I think that would depend on the individual taking the job. I’ve been out 11 years so I’m not as conversant in who’s good, who’s not good, within the NFL, as I once was. I’m a fan now, so I can sit back and I can second guess like everybody else. It’s two-fold here. We’re talking about Reggie McKenzie, being at Green Bay obviously they play Chicago twice a year. He knows Chicago in and out. The ins and outs of Chicago. He does not know that much, probably the ins and outs of the Raiders, other than probably from a personnel standpoint. So it will be whatever’s most appealing to him. And fortunately for the Raiders, if they’re able to get someone the caliber of Reggie McKenzie that’s a big plus.

Q: What makes him so good? Why is Reggie McKenzie so special?

Wolf: Well, he’s worked his way right from the bottom up, all the way up to the top. He’s gone as far as you can go in his particular area, personnel. He’s handled every aspect in the personnel office that one could handle. He’s signed players. He’s cut players. He’s involved with players in contractual disputes. He’s handled things with the union. He understands how contracts work. He understands how the money end of the game works. He’s negotiated contracts. But most importantly, he’s an exceptional judge of talente.

Q: How best describe his day to day interpersonal skills? Intense, pragmatic, etc.?

Wolf: He functions very well. First of all, he’s a linebacker, and I think anyone understands the temperment of a linebacker. They are a little bit different breed. Reggie’s a little bit different in that standpoint. He came in as a rookie, I think he was a 10th round draft choice of the Raiders, and started, from the University of Tennessee. To me, that speaks volumes of his toughness, his mental and physical capabilities. He still has both of those, mental and physical capability. If he gets upset he can certainly hold his own in those areas. I just think he’s perfect.

Q: Some rumblings that if McKenzie comes here or Chicago, that your son, Elliot would be tandem, a hire with Reggie?

Wolf: I don’t know that. Let me say this, Reggie’s his own man. He will hire the people around him. Say, whatever job he gets _ or maybe he doesn’t get any job _ those will be Reggie’s people. He will hire the people he thinks can best help him do his job. And it doesn’t have anything to do with the names of my son or anyone else. Let me just say this, my son’s been involved with the Packers for eight years. He’s been involved long enough to know who can and who cannot do it, and he knows that. But I don’t think that Reggie would hire him just because he’s my son. He would hire him because he has the capability of helping Reggie become better.

Q: Alluded to fact had conversations with Mark, and he would hire a GM, how deep is your involvement in this process?

Wolf: I’m not involved in the process whatsoever. I talked to Mark a long time ago about what he wanted, what type of person he wanted and I recommended Reggie, that was the extent of it. I’m not involved at all.

Q: The perception is they were leaning on you more than you let on . . . you talked about Reggie in November, was that the last time you had contact with Mark?

Wolf: No, that’s not the last time, but I am not involved in Mark Davis’ search for the general manager. Let’s make this perfectly clear. Mark is going to do what he wants to do, how he wants to do it. I was called and asked about Reggie McKenzie and that was my recommendation. And I recommend him fully. He’s more than capable of being able to do the job.

Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer

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(where he whiffed on Stafford on a play that would have saved the game)

@@@@@@

That play was the worst for me, that has hit,fumble big fckn play written all over it an he throws a limp arm at a Qb 1st down…game over…
We want a beast not a big slow bully.
3rd season trunaround?

SnB offense defense specialteams

The Raiders pursued a Colts like strategy on defense….a bunch of b.s about getting ahead in the game and just focusing on rushing the passer……well, unless your offense puts up 45 a game or you have Peyton….”designed to stop the pass” “weak on the run” bunk doesn’t work.

We can hire him and have him working immediately. Rule on front office hires: can sign them immediately if they get full control of roster and draft. Which I am sure we will. If we don’t then he can’t be signed until the Packers season done. Hue’s contractual powers will pose a problem. Thus, either we can Hue to grant Reggie full control, or are re-doing Hue’s contract.

http://www.raiders.com Raider O

Hold on?!
I thought we can’t hire him now. His team is still playing.

http://ggeden.wordpress.com/ GG

We can see ^

LA to TheBay

I know the Nation was pissed after the SD game.

I was too.

Good news is we kind of figured from the start a Chuck B-run defense was going to suck. He is what he we thought he was.

Now we can get down to business.

Hue will handle sh;t on O and we’ll get someone fkin legit on D. Reggie will work some magic in March and handle the war room in April.

hwnrdr

Is that true, GG? So that is why the report says that they are working out his duties?

Sweep The Leg.

If this report about McKenzie is true, this is the best thing to happen to the Raiders organization since January 1984.

This is a BIG, BIG deal.

We are about to become relevant again.

hwnrdr

28 years! I did mention it a while ago that I wish some of these younger guys seen the glory years…everyone was hurting, some were saying since 2002! 28 years! Man, that is a long time! Never will forget that day!
We are coming back!

That is cool GG! Very cool! Now I can sleep better at nights! Lol..just kidding but now I know we are headed in the right direction!

http://ggeden.wordpress.com/ GG

Grab a woman and make happiness with her

hwnrdr

GG Says:
January 5th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Grab a woman and make happiness with her

LOL

http://www.raiderettes.com Sullivan44

Tribune’s ditching this blog. I hope you guys know that. Raider news all over the internet. Schefter, Silver, 95.7 all reporting that Raiders on the verge of hiring McKenzie. Nothing here. Still on yesterdays’ entry. They’re pulling the plug on this blog, chalking it up to a casualty of the twitterverse.

http://www.raiders.com Raider O

In glad to hear you Old Goats can still Make Happiness with women. Good for you.

raidertalk

If Mckenzie hire is on or happens, I think it might be a good thing for McClain. Reggie was a LB and could evaluate Mclain’s stuff. I’m not ready to give up on McClain the Irish Warrior yet. Had some better game before Chuckie B started doing his magic

http://www.raiders.com Raider O

RMR,

Making happiness with cousins and aunts doesn’t count.

http://www.raiderettes.com Sullivan44

Imagine if Hue Jackson hadn’t have taken charge when Al passed? Just twiddled his thumbs, started Boller, ended the season at 5-11? Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. HC for the Oakland Raiders is a thankless job. No matter what happens to Hue, I want to thank him for giving us some kind of shot this season. Hopefully he and McKenzie work together and he stays a couple of years.

LA to TheBay

Sullivan44 Says:
January 5th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
Tribune’s ditching this blog. I hope you guys know that. Raider news all over the internet. Schefter, Silver, 95.7 all reporting that Raiders on the verge of hiring McKenzie. Nothing here. Still on yesterdays’ entry. They’re pulling the plug on this blog, chalking it up to a casualty of the twitterverse.

———–

With all the blog hits this place gets?

Not so sure of that.

Jerry/Cork not going to break news of hirings/firings, trades, etc., but still provide an interesting and valuable insight into the team itself.

Always support local.

http://www.raiderettes.com Sullivan44

Raider O, stfu you drunk idiot. Just because you can get drunk and post on a blog doesn’t make you a man.

LA to TheBay

Imagine if Hue Jackson hadn’t have taken charge when Al passed? Just twiddled his thumbs, started Boller, ended the season at 5-11? Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. HC for the Oakland Raiders is a thankless job. No matter what happens to Hue, I want to thank him for giving us some kind of shot this season. Hopefully he and McKenzie work together and he stays a couple of years.

———

Agreed 100%

http://www.raiders.com Raider O

I don’t drink, and I was talking to Real Monkey Raider, so why are you so angry little man?

http://www.raiderettes.com Sullivan44

Oh, so you’re one of those geeks that acts drunk after having a soda and a candy bar? Whatever the case, stfu, Raider O. You’re not funny. You’re not witty. You’re not smart. You’re not original. You’re not interesting. You’re lucky you even have a name. So stfu.

http://::::: BIG NEWS IN THE MAKINGS // UNDISCLOSED SOURCE TO ANNOUNCE BIG NEWS ON WILD CARD WEEKEND EVE // WONT WAIT FOR TWITTER TO BREAK IT FIRST // PRESSER CANT SAY // NO APPS AVAILABLE AT THIS MOMENT // LONG LOST MOJO ABOUT TO RETURN

[..] [..]

LA to TheBay

Getting a GM is good news and especially a personel guy of Reggie’s calibre, a former Raider no loss, with ties to guys like Ron Wolf.

Guy has been around a winner for the last, what, 10+ years and helped build it up into one of the NFL’s elite teams?

Sheeeeeit.

This is significant news.

Like not just one practice or one game but like, seasons. The direction of the franchise.

Best of luck to you, Reggie.

We deserve to be on top again and you’ll have a lot of pressure to deliver.

http://ggeden.wordpress.com/ GG

Sullivan44 Says:
January 5th, 2012 at 10:43 pm

Imagine if…

—-

If Al hadn’t passed away, Hue would’ve been fired with the season ending the way it did. Or, gotten one more year (2012) then shown the door, as Al continued the carousel of cheap young HC’ing hires and old cheap DCs happy to get a gig in the NFL again and run Al’s system.

http://www.raiderettes.com Sullivan44

Hopefully McKenzie is guaranteed complete control in writing. If there’s some clause about “Raider tradition” or any stupid schit like that, forget it. McKenzie’ would just be a puppet, Herrera and Trask would still call the shots. This would all be for not. Hopefully someone in the media gets the specs of the contract.

http://www.raiders.com Raider O

Why is this little man so angry. Are you RMR’s cousin? did he Molest you?

Master Beeecham

MacKenzie seems like a pretty word up bro slammy slam.

I’ll get him on the Reggae Party Boat to see if he parties serious or is just a nerdy Madden Retard-style shut in.

Gotta bump some of my Coolio remixes if he hits the dance floor whut whut

Raider O, the only people who talk about incest and molestation as much as you are right now are people who are either victims of it, or people who commit it. I don’t want to know which one it is in your case. If it’s the latter, god speed in law enforcement catching up with you. In the mean time, could you please just stfu?

RaiderRetribution

Raiders are being critized (and justifiably so) for holding off firing whichever coaches they are planning to fire (or not bring back).

I read team has until January 15th to either retain or fire.

Holding out until the last minute will keep some good candidates to replace them, from making the Raiders their first choice.

LA to TheBay

MR, I sincerely doubt Reggie was brought in to be head of scouting or whatever.

It’s Mark’s team.

Mark went to his pops’ most trusted inner circle and asked what he should do.

They told him and he went and hired Reggie, who is highly respected and in demand. He chose Silver & Black.

As mentioned before, I don’t think he could be hired in the first place without a significant deal of control.

The question becomes, what happens with the current roster and the incumbent head coach?

Gut feeling?

Reggie listens to Hue cause Hue knows the team and I’m confident that he knows what needs to get done to take it in the right direction.

Hue was talking about an attitute adjustment.

Get rid of any remaining dead weight and get high motor guys that want to win more than anything.. Gru and Gannon style.